L. Eden Hendrick was born and raised in Columbia, South Carolina. She earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Georgia Honors Program in 2002 and her Juris Doctor from the University of South Carolina School of Law in 2005. Hendrick began her legal career at the Fifth Circuit Solicitor’s Office, where she prosecuted cases across General Sessions, Magistrate, and Family Courts until 2010.

She went on to serve as Staff Attorney for the Foster Care Review Board, advocating for timely permanency for youth in foster care across the state. Hendrick later represented the SC Department of Social Services as a County Attorney in Richland, Fairfield, and Chester counties, litigating removal and termination of parental rights cases. In 2015, she returned to the Fifth Circuit Solicitor’s Office to manage the Richland County Family Court Division, overseeing all juvenile justice matters in the county. Prior to joining SCDJJ, she served as Assistant General Counsel at the South Carolina Department of Administration.

As Executive Director of SCDJJ, Hendrick brings a deep understanding of juvenile law and a firm belief that young people are more than their past actions and deserve meaningful opportunities to grow, change, and succeed. Under her leadership, the agency embraces a collaborative structure, referring to its core areas as branches rather than divisions. This language emphasizes unity, collaboration and shared purpose and responsibility. Each branch—whether focused on community services, secure facilities, clinical care, education, or support operations—plays a vital role in advancing the agency’s mission. Together, they ensure that every youth receives comprehensive, coordinated services aimed at rehabilitation, accountability, and long-term public safety.